Strip feed mechanism



zwequo u 0 1 J m m i B x h A a m E w g I; E m m a w Z7110 m United States Patent 3,183,709 STRIP FEED MECHANISM Raymond G. Olson, Niles, lll., assignor to Power Control Products, Inc., a corporation of lliinois Filed Apr. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 270,873 4 Claims. (Cl. 24-263) This invention relates generally to strip feed mechanisms, and more particularly to a novel construction for a pneumatically operated jaw for a strip feed mechanism. It is contemplated that the jaw construction of the present invention may be used in strip feed mechanisms of the type generally shown in the patent application of Howard W. Ronfeldt, filed March 15, 1962, Serial Number 179,939, and now Patent No. 3,125,270, for Press Feed Mechanisms.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel jaw construction for a pneumatically operated strip feed mechanism.

It is another object to provide a novel improved construction of a pneumatically operated jaw for a strip feed mechanism such as shown in the above noted Ronfeldt application which will prevent destruction of the diaphragm of the jaw by any action of a distorted strip material in passing through the jaw.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the improved piston member of the subject invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a jaw constructed according to the present invention and taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 3 is a lateral cross sectional view of the jaw construction of FIGURE 2 and taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Generally, a strip feed mechanism in which the novel jaw construction of the present invention may be used comprises a pair of jaws, one jaw being called the stationary jaw, and the other jaw being called the moving jaw. A length of strip material is inserted in the jaw openings and the jaws are alternately operated and restored with an appropriate movement of the moving jaw toward and away from the stationary jaw to advance the length of strip material in a direction forwardly of the stationary jaw and generally into some other device such as a punch press. In pneumatically operated jaw constructions such as that of the present invention, some controlled supply of air under pressure is applied to the stationary and moving jaws to provide for the desired operation thereof. The operation of such a strip feed mechanism can be described by beginning with the operation of the moving jaw to grip the strip material and the release of the stationary jaw. The moving jaw is then moved toward the stationary jaw and the strip material is pushed through the jaw opening of the stationary jaw and forwardly thereof. When the moving jaw reaches the stationary jaw, the stationary jaw is operated to grip the strip material and the moving jaw is released. The

moving jaw is then moved away from the stationary jaw with the released jaw member of the moving jaw sliding over the upper and lower surfaces of the strip material. When the moving jaw reaches its restored or retracted position, the moving jaw is again operated to grip the strip material and the stationary jaw is restored to 3,188,7fi9 Patented June 15, 1965 release the strip material. The moving jaw is again moved toward the stationary jaw with the strip material passing through the jaw opening of the stationary jaw to complete one cycle. A constant repetition of the described cycle will cause the strip material to be intermittently advanced forwardly of the stationary jaw.

In jaw constructions such as shown in the noted Ronfeldt application, it has been found that when a relatively stiff and distorted strip material is moved through the jaw opening of one of the jaws, the strip material often operates a a wedge to force one side of the piston member of the jaw against the elastomer diaphragm which is disposed beneath the piston member to compress the diaphragm against the base member of the jaw and thereby cut and destroy the diaphragm. The present invention provides an extremely simple but completely effective solution for the problem of destroyed diaphragms. An important feature of the present invention is that only one change need be made in a jaw construction of the noted Ronfeldt application, and that change is of the piston member. The changed piston member construction of the subject invention makes use of the fact that in the prior jaw constructions the piston member extends above the surface of the piston retaining plate. The present invention merely requires that the end portions of the piston member which extend above the piston retaining plate be extended over the upper surface of the piston member retaining plate. With the present invention there is no need to make any extensive alterations in the prior jaw constructions, it merely being necessary to remove the prior piston member and replace it with a piston member having the extending end portions. With the improved jaw construction of the present invention, a relatively stiff and distorted strip material can be forced through the jaw openings, and the piston member on being forced downwardly by the wedging action of the strip material will, at the extending end portions, merely engage the upper surface of the piston member retaining plate to prevent the piston member from being forced downwardly to cut the diaphragm.

In detail, the jaw construction of the invention comprises a base member 10, a diaphragm 11, a piston member retaining plate 12, a piston member 13, and an upper jaw member 14.

The base member 10 is generally rectangular in shape and may include slide means if the jaw is to be used as a moving jaw, or securing means if the jaw is to be used as a stationary jaw. The upper surface of the base member 10 is provided with a relatively shallow depression or cavity 15 which extends longitudinally centrally of the base member 16. Some means such as the passageway 16 is provided for applying or releasing air under pressure to the cavity 15.

The diaphragm 11 is formed as a rectangular sheet of a material such as rubber or neoprene. The diaphragm 11 is placed over the cavity 15 on the upper surface of the base member 10.

The piston member retaining plate 12 is rectangular in shape and is secured to the upper surface of the base member 10 by a plurality of screws 17 which extend through the plate 12, the diaphragm 11, and into the base member 10. The screws 17 are positioned about the periphery of the plate 12. The plate 12 is provided with a substantially rectangular hole formed therethrough substantially longitudinally centrally thereof. The hole in the plate 12 is slightly larger than the length and width of the cavity 15. This construction provides a substantial air seal between the diaphragm 11 and the side marginal edges of the cavity 15.

The piston member 13 is positioned in the hole through the plate 12. The piston member 13 has the length and width substantially equal to the length and width of the Each end portion of the piston 13 is provided with an extending flange portion .13a'of a'fthickness susbtantially equal to the difference between the thickness of the piston.

member 13and the thickness of theplate 12.f Thus it may be seen that the underside of the extending flanges 13a of the piston member 13 engage the upper surface of the plate 12 with the underside of the piston 13 preferably terminating just slightly above or' engaging the top surface of the diaphragm 11 without indenting the diaphragm. The longitudinal side edges of the piston mem'-' ber 13 are chamfered. V i

From the foregoing-it may be seen. that if air unde pressure is delivered to the passageway 16, that air under pressure will act against the underside of the diaphragm 11 to apply a lifting force on the piston member '13 It may further be seen that with no air underpressure in the cavity 15, the piston member 13 mayv be forced downwardly against the'plate'lz with a substantial force and the diaphragm 11 willnot be cut between the lower ton member is determined solely by said jaw member and any stripmaterial therebetweena 2. A pneumatic jaw construction for passing a strip stock horizontally'therethrough and for clamping said strip stock comprising, abase member having a cavity formed in the upper surface thereof, air conduit means extending into said cavity, an elastomer diaphragm member positioned on'the upper surface of said base member s and over' said cavity, a plate secured to the upper surface of s aid base member with said diaphragm therebetween, said'plate having an'o'pening therethrough above said cavity, a free piston member disposed'in said opening in I saidplateand engaging the upper side of said'diaphragm 1 extending over the upper surface of said plate with the underside of said flange portions engaging the upper surface of saidplate under the force of gravity, and an upper jaw'member fixedly carried over said piston member in a spaced relationship thereto, so thatra strip material is insertable between the underside of, said upper jaw memside edges of the piston member '13 and the upper surface of the base memberlfi. a

a The upper jaw member 14 provides a surface against which the piston member 13 may react in clamping a strip material, suchasstrip material 18, therebetween. The upper jaw member 14 is substantially U-shaped in cross section and is secured at one endthereof to the base mem- .member 14 and the upper surface of the base member 10? to provide a suitable spacing between the underside of a the upper jaw member 14 and the upper surface of the piston member 13 in thereleased position'of the jaw for her and the upper surface of saidfpiston member to ex-. tend outwardlyfrom opposite sides thereof and so that the permitted rangeof' upward movement of said piston member is determined solely by said upper jaw member 7 and any strip material therebetween.

V 3. A pneumatic jawconst ruction'for passing a' strip stock horizontally therethrough and for clamping said strip stock comprising, a base member having a cavity formed in the upper surface thereof, air conduit means extending into said cavity, an elastomer'diaphragm memberpositioned on the upper surface of said base member to cover said cavity, a plate secured to' the uppersurface of said base member with said, diaphragm therebetween to seal said diaphragm against the marginal edges of said cavity, said plate having an opening therethrough above said cavity and of a size greater than the area of said easy passage of the strip material 18 therethrough and sageway 16. "The spacing member 20 may-comprise a' cavity covered by said diaphragm, 'a free piston member disposed in said opening in said plate and being formed of asize substantially equal to the size of' saidopening in said plate, the undersideof said piston member enplurality of relatively thin shims. The bolts 19 extend through the'upperjaw member *14, the spacing member 20, the plate 12, and are threaded into the base 'mem ber 10. a

. From the foregoing description of the invention it may be seen that the diaphragm 11 will not be out if a distorted v strip material such as shown in FIGURE 3 is forced between the underside of the upperjaw member 14 and the upper surface of the piston member 13. 1

Having described the invention, what is considered new' i and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is: a

1. A pneumatic jawtconstruction for passing. a' strip 7 stock horizontally thcrethrough and for clamping said strip stock comprising a base member having a cavity formed in the upper surface thereof, air conduit means extending into said cavity, an elastomer diaphragm member posipiston member having extending flange portions on op posite sides thereof, said flange portions of said piston member extending over the surface of said plate to engage said surface of said plate under the force of gravity, and a jaw member fixedly carried in a spaced relationship to said piston member, whereby a strip material'in insertable between said jaw member and said piston member to extend outwardly from opposite sides thereof and wherea by the permitted range of upward movement of said pisgaging the upper side of said diaphragm over said cavity under the force of gravity,said'piston member having extending flange portions on opposite sides thereof," said flange portions, of said piston member extending over the upper surface of said plate: with the'underside of said flange portions engaging the upper surface of said plate under the force of gravity, and an upper jaw member fixedly carried over said piston member in'a parallel spaced apart relationshipthereto, wherebya strip mate rial is ins'ertable'between the underside of said. upper jaw member and the upperssurface of said piston member to extendoutwardly-from opposite sides thereof and so that the permitted range of upward movement of said piston member is determinedsolely by said upper jaw memberand any strip material therebetween.

I, :4. A pneumatic jaw construction for passing a strip stock horizontally therethrough and for clam'pingsaid strip stock. comprising, a rectangular base member having a generally rectangularly shaped cavity formed in the upper surface'thereof, air conduit means extending through said base member into said cavity, a rectangular elastomer diaphragm sheet positioned on the upper surface of said base member to cover'said cavity, a rectangular'plate secured to the upper surface of said base'member with saiddiaphragin therebetween to seal said diaphragm about the marginal edges of said cavity, said 7 plate having a rectangularly shaped opening therethrough,

saidopening through said plate pQ itioned' concentrically of said cavity, said opening throughsaid plate having a length and width greater'than the length and width of said cavity, a'rectangularly shaped'piston member having a length and width substantially equal to the length and width of said opening throughsaid plate, said piston memher disposed in said opening in saidplate free of any connection to said plate and said base member and engaging the upperside of said diaphragm over said cavity under the force of gravity, said piston member having a thickness greater than the thickness of said plate, said piston member having extending flanges integrally formed on the longitudinally disposed ends of said piston member, said flanges having a thickness substantially equal to the difference between the thickness of said piston member and the thickness of said plate, said flanges extending over the upper surface of said plate and engaging the upper surface of said plate under the force of gravity, and an upper jaw member fixedly carried over said piston member in a parallel spaced apart relationship thereto, whereby a strip material is insertable between the underside of said upper jaw member and the upper surface of said piston member to extend outwardly from opposite sides thereof and so that the permitted range of upward movement of said piston member is determined solely by said upper jaw member and any strip material therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,393 11/38 Wichtendahl.

2,294,676 9/42 MacMillin et a1.

2,342,437 2/44 Summers.

2,437,737 3/ 48 Halby.

2,586,617 2/52 Danby.

2,695,697 11/54 Stoeckicht.

2,745,435 5/56 Hobbs.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,054,946 4/59 Germany.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PNEUMATIC JAW CONSTRUCTION FOR PASSING A STRIP STOCK HORIZONTALLY THERETHROUGH AND FOR CLAMPING SAID STRIP STOCK COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING A CAVITY FORMED IN THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF, AIR CONDUIT MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID CAVITY, AN ELASTOMER DIAPHRAGM MEMBER POSITIONED OVER SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER TO COVER SAID CAVITY, A PLATE SECURED TO SAID UPPER SURFACE OF SAID BASE MEMBER TO SEAL SAID DIAPHRAGM ABOUT THE MARGINAL EDGES OF SAID CAVITY, SAID PLATE HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH EXPOSING THE PORTION OF SAID DIAPHRAGM COVERING SAID CAVITY, A FREE PISTON MEMBER DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING IN SAID PLATE ABOVE SAID DIAPHRAGM, SAID PISTON MEMBER HAVING EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, SAID FLANGE PORTIONS OF SAID PISTON MEMBER EXTENDING OVER THE SURFACE OF SAID PLATE TO ENGAGE SAID SURFACE OF SAID PLATE UNDER THE FORCE OF GRAVITY, AND A JAW MEMBER FIXEDLY CARRIED IN A SPACED RELATIONSHIP TO SAID PISTON MEMBER, WHEREBY A STRIP MATERIAL IN INSERTABLE BETWEEN SAID JAW MEMBER AND SAID PISTON MEMBER TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF AND WHEREBY THE PERMITTED RANGE OF UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON MEMBER IS DETERMINED SOLELY BY SAID JAW MEMBER AND ANY STRIP MATERIAL THEREBETWEEN. 